WootBot

Is Arrested Development one of the funniest, weirdest, best TV shows ever made? No question. Am I eagerly awaiting the return of Arrested Development on Netflix this weekend? You know it, bro. Can Arrested Development sometimes drop a miserable crud-bomb of a joke that makes me squirm with embarrassment for everyone involved? Emphatically, yes.

The chicken thing. Never before in history have so many funny performers made such great efforts to be funny for a bit that was so unfunny. And then did it again, and again, and again. As commentary on chicken issues goes, it's only slightly less painful than Morrissey comparing the Norway mass shootings to KFC.

"Big Yellow Joint". The '60s version is just kind of limp and dull, but the "punk" version is absolutely unendurable. The problem isn't that it's obnoxious; it's obnoxious in exactly the wrong way, like what a sexagenarian TV writer with a grey ponytail might imagine a punk band sounds like.

Motherboy, the band. Another deeply stupid stab at pop-culture satire. Motherboy doesn't sound like an '80s metal band's name, the photo is a '70s glam-prog kind of thing, and none of is remotely funny. Another case of grey-ponytail syndrome?

"Marry me." Mildly cute once, sort of. Not so adorable the 73rd time. I guess I just don't get it, especially as a way of deflecting further scrutiny. Wouldn't you consider someone who just blurted out "marry me" mentally ill? Wouldn't it make you a little more concerned?

If it seems unfair to the show's creators to dwell on a couple of lousy minutes from 53 otherwise brilliant episodes, believe me, writing this piece has hurt me more than I could possibly hurt them. And I'll still be bouncing up and down on my couch with glee when the first new episode rolls.

pburow

Guitarpick8120

At first read through, I thought you were being sarcastic with this list. Not only are these not bad bits, but a couple of them are fantastic if you get the references.

1) The chicken dances are hilarious in that 4 members of the family (Gob, Lindsay, Lucille, and George) each have their own ridiculous (and ridiculously WRONG) impression of a chicken. THEY think they're taunting Michael and insulting him, but because their motions are so ludicrous, they're humiliating themselves more than they ever could Michael.

2) I wouldn't have even listed "Big Yellow Joint" as a "bit" (good or bad) since it was more of a musical motif used during scenes that dealt or referenced drugs. It's no different than the Mexican music plays when the brothers start fighting each other or "The Final Countdown" anytime magic is seen or discussed.

3) The Motherboy bit works on two levels, and I feel like you skipped both of them and focused on the obvious red-herring.

Firstly, it's a jab at the fact that late 80s/early 90s hip-hop group "Arrested Development" sued Fox because of the name. Hence why RH narrates in reference to Motherboy the band is different than the Mother/Son thing by saying "we are legally obligated to make the distinction."

Secondly, the fact that that band in the picture looks like a cheesy 70s glam-prog band is a reference to the fact that Jethro Tull won the first ever Grammy for the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category. They beat actual metal group Metallica, and chose not to even show up because they not only didn't think they'd win, but were surprised they were even nominated because they were a (you guessed it) a 70s prog-rock group!

4) "Marry Me," I feel, is like the whole "Annyong" bit in that the joke IS that it's overplayed and done to death. And because Maeby kept using it, it got her in trouble (once with Michael: "I'm sorry, I forgot who I was talking to." And once with the overeager production assistant on the film lot: "...and might I add 'marry me?'" "Ok!")

Huh, yeah, hah, like the guy who's re-watched this shows more times than he cares to admit is going to just let you badmouth some really clever jokes... COME ON!

kh99

There's no rule that says everyone has to like the show. Reading your list of things that "don't work", I think you should just not bother watching the show because it isn't your thing. I guess not everyone gets it.

zugdar

jethroboom

2 and 3 I don't even acknowledge anymore. 1 is hilarious, sorry it annoys you. 4 you're dead on, though, that is how it is supposed to be. Not everyone can be a good writer, let alone a good comedic writer.

sunnyx0r

The chicken thing is one of the funniest things I've seen on TV. "Has anyone in this family even seen a chicken?" I also disagree with you on #4 in that, yeah, sometimes it falls flat, but it is also frequently quite funny. #3 I'll grant you. And honestly I'm not even sure what the reference is in #2.

brassy5000

kwdragon

I, too, am over the chicken impressions. I laughed the first dozen times, and groan on each subsequent retell.

However, I love Maeby's line, especially when she misuses it, as a kid would be likely to do. Concerns about grey ponytails doing the writing? I am more concerned that the testosterone-impaired are the ones not getting this joke.

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." -- Ernest Hemingway

mdonovan227

At first I thought this article was a joke because it's way too off to be written in sincerity ... I KNOW there is more intelligence in that office than this article shows, but the Woot damage is done in my eyes. Disagree with it all.

kdar

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and say the chicken dances are comedy gold. And as for the "Marry me" thing, I didn't always love it, but when Michael says it to Nellie, and follows up with "That's wrong on so many levels..." it kills me.

scooterdeb

The reason *I* find it funny is because the other characters aren't trying to BE funny. There absolutely no self-awareness on their part that the actions/motions they are making aren't actions/motions made by actual chickens.

They really think they are "acting out" real chickens, and Michael is the only person who knows what they're doing isn't remotely chicken-related. This is why he finally asks, "Has anyone in this family even SEEN a chicken?"

No, they haven't. But this is what they've always done when they want to taunt Michael and call him a chicken. He will never be able to convince them that what they're doing isn't being true to chickens... much like his frustration with a lot of their behavior in the rest of the show.

Gatzby wrote:Can someone explain why the chicken bit is so funny? I'm largely with Jason on this one, as I just kinda found it annoying, but I'm open to explanations.

And yeah, I know, explaining a joke usually kills it, but I'm curious about the other perspective.

cappomutato

kdar

Gatzby wrote:Can someone explain why the chicken bit is so funny? I'm largely with Jason on this one, as I just kinda found it annoying, but I'm open to explanations.

Like someone posted ahead of me, it's funny in that it illustrates the obliviousness of the Bluthe's.

On the other side of why it's freaking hilarious: Will Arnett SELLS IT. His complete dedication to that chicken dance is incredible, enviable even. The other characters' dances are more funny in that you realize this complete inability to do a chicken dance is genetic.

Jason Toon

Like I said, y'all, I love the show. I've watched every episode a dozen times. I named my daughter Tobias Fünke Toon. I've got a full-size Fathead decal of Tony Wonder on the ceiling above my bed. But these bits just don't do it for me. Believe me, I wish they did.

farinuts wrote:Interesting. Jason, what are some of the successful bits you've written for TV?

I'm assuming you've never written a TV show as successful as, I dunno, Full House. Do you consider Full House beyond criticism...?

Guitarpick8120 wrote:The Motherboy bit works on two levels, and I feel like you skipped both of them and focused on the obvious red-herring.

Firstly, it's a jab at the fact that late 80s/early 90s hip-hop group "Arrested Development" sued Fox because of the name. Hence why RH narrates in reference to Motherboy the band is different than the Mother/Son thing by saying "we are legally obligated to make the distinction."

Secondly, the fact that that band in the picture looks like a cheesy 70s glam-prog band is a reference to the fact that Jethro Tull won the first ever Grammy for the "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" category. They beat actual metal group Metallica, and chose not to even show up because they not only didn't think they'd win, but were surprised they were even nominated because they were a (you guessed it) a 70s prog-rock group!

I got the "legally obligated" reference to the hip-hop Arrested Development, but the Tull/Grammy thing, dude... I think maybe you've given this more thought than the writers did. Happens to me all the time with stuff I'm really into. It's the curse of the superfan.

acrizer

jrwofuga

Yes, someone please explain why the chicken dance, GOB's especially, is so funny. And while you're at it, what was with that Chaplin guy as well? Explain his deal.

AD is one of the funniest shows ever. I know the poster said he/she is a fan, so fair enough, and I can maybe understand the "marry me" joke . . . but i hadn't heard of any AD fan not loving the chicken dance.

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